Circuit-controlling switch.



U! H. HILL. CIRCUIT CONTROLLING SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED M1143, 1909.

Patented June 27, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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20 Inventor": Cherries H.I"li||,

G. H. HILL. CIRCUIT CONTROLLING SWITGH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1909. 996,336. Patented Jane .27, 192i.

3 SHEETS SHEET 2.

C. H. HILL.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED JAILIS, 1909.

996,336, Patented June 27,1911.

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itnesses: Inventor:

M I Charle H.H!||, W 2 am/$4 v UNITED sraras CHARLES HILL,

To. all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CI-IAnLns H. HILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improv ments in Circuit-Controlling Switches, of which the following is a specifi- I I This invention relates to devices for con trolling electric circuits and has for its obbodied in concrete form for the purpose of illustration.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my starting switch; Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 represents a side view of the starting switch with the controlling member in starting position; Fig. 4 represents my device diagrammatically together with the circuit connections thereof; Fig. 5 represents a plan view of my starting switch with the interlocking features; Fig. 6 represents a side elevation of the same; and Figs. 7 and 8 a detail of the interlocking mechanism.

Referring to the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4, 10 represents a base, preferably of insulating material, such as slate or soapstone. of contacts 11, 12, 13, 14, etc., the last two contacts being and 16. These contacts are arranged in two sets parallel with each other and are of varying length so that their ends maybe engaged consecutively by the controlling member. The construction 1s such that the controlling member engages 'the contact of one set and next engages the contact of the adjacent set, which is of slightly greater length. The controlling member 17 is compound and consists of two blades 18 and 19 connected by thecross-"bar 20 pivoted at 21 and 22. The contacts have Specification of Letters Patent.

PATENT orn on.

OF SCHENECTADY YORK, ASSIGN'OR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CQEPORATION (3F NEW'YORK.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING SWITCH.

Patented June 27, 1911.

Application filed January 13, 1909. Serial No. 47 21151.

their ends off set, as shown, so that the con- ;trolling member will only engage the off set or end portions. This controlling member is movedby an operating member 23 pivoted concentrically with the controlling mem-- ber in a bracket 23. This operating member is bifurcated, as shown, and provided with a spring pressed pawl 24, which is'arranged to cooperate with the ratchet wheel 25 mounted in the bracket 23 to move independently of the operating member. This ratchet wheel is fixed to switch blades 18 and 19 by means of supporting bars 26, so

- that as the} ratchet wheel is rotatedit carries with it the switch blades. A cover or hood 27 is mounted adjacent the ratchet wheel and is curved over the wheel so as to cover a portion of the ratchet. The end of this hood is so shaped thatwhen the pawl 24: is moved by the operator a certain distance, it will engage the hood and lift the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet teeth. The hood leaves enough of the teeth uncovered so that the operator is able to engage only one tooth at a time so that'the switch blades will only be moved one step. If the operate-r attempts to move anyfarther the pawl will be lifted and ride over the hood. The contacts 12, 13, 14, etc, are connected with resistances, as shown in. Fig. 4t.

The position of, the parts of the device in readiness for-starting is shown in Fig. 3, the operator having moved the operating meming forced the controlling member to the operating member engages the cross bar 20 of the controlling member and IIIOVQSlt to 28 is grasped and moved downwardv to the position shown in Fig. 3, the pawl, 24 riding on the b ood, The handle is then moved back- .ward and, as it approaches the top, the pawl forced into the position shown in Fig. 1, in which the controlling member is moved from the starting position on to the contact 15. By moving the arm backward and forward so as to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel step to consecutively engage the contacts. As above pointed out, however, only one step can be takenat a time. It will be observed starting position. This is possible since the starting position. In operating the handle Mounted on this base are a plurality engages one of, the teeth and the parts are,

berto the lowermost position, thereby hav- ,the operating member will move step by also that contact is made tirst on one side and then on the other. With this arrangement a greater number of contacts can be accommodated in a small space and there is considerable economy in the amount of metal used for these contacts. li ioreovcr, an 019 cecding'ly good and etlicient electrical contact ismade in this way. Finally the con trolling arm is brought to the top of the panel and the switch. is in running position. Before starting the motor again the parts must be brought back to the position shown in Fig. 3.

In order to prevent the closing of the motor circuit while the parts are in any other position than the starting position, i have arranged an iliterlocking mechanism between the line switch or circuit breaker and the starting" switch, so that the switch or circuit breaker cannot be closed unless the switch is in. starting position. This I ac complish by means of a plum r 29 which is engaged by one arm of the circuit breaker and must be forced through panel board in order to close the circuit breaker. This plunger is normally forced outward through the panel board 30 by means of the spring 31. A barrier 32 prevents the plunger from l1 eing forced through the panel excepting when the starting switch is in starting position. This barrier 32 1s plvotcd at 33 and spring pressed as to normally prevent the plunger from passing through. The barrier, however, is provided with an opening through which the plunger may pass when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 6. An interlocking roe 34 connects the free end of the barrier at 35 with one arm of hell crank lever 36 pivoted at 37. To the 0pposite arm of this bell-crank lever is con nected a plunger arranged to be engaged by theeross bar 39 of the operating member of the switch. The arrangement is such that when the switch is in starting; position cross bar 39 engages the plunger forcing it inward, thereby pulling the interlockin rod 34 downward. This rotates the barrier so that the opening therein comes opposite the plunger 29. In this position then, the circuit breaker may be closed, since the plunger 29 may be forced through the panel board. As soon as the controlling member leaves the starting position, however. and the circuit breaker is opened, the plunger 29 willbe pressed outward and the barrier will be shifted so as to cover up the opening. It will therefore be necessary to again bring the parts to starting position before closing the circuit breaker.

This type of starting switch is found to be particularly desirable when used upon a vertical panel board, although it is obvious that its utility is not limited to this particular 0 c u a 3 application. The interlocking feature between the circuit breaker and the starting switch desirable in some cases, but not al ways necessary. since the starting switch. is perfectly operative \vitlmut this feature.

While I have described my device as embodying a specitii construction and as 0perated in a definite mamier in accordance with the patent statutes, it. should be under stood that no not limit my invention thereto. since various mod? cations of my invention will themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention. the scope or", which is sett'orth in the anneXcd claims.

What it claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,

1. A controlling device for electric cir cults comprising a base, a resistance varying' clement. pivoted for movement in a plane perpendicular to the has, manually operated ratchet mechanism for shitting said member st'yp by step, and a plurality of contacts mounted on the base at varying distances from the pivotal point of the element and having" engaging surfaces substantially ei'piidistai'it from said. point so as to be successively engaged by s a idv element.

2. A. eoi'itrolling device for electric circuits con'iprising a base, a resistance varying element pivoted for movement in a plane perpendicular to said base, manually operated ratchet mechanism for shifting said member step-by step, and a plurality of contacts mounted on the base at varying distances from the pivotal point, the ends of said contacts forming engaging; surfaces which are substantially equidistant from the pivotal point of said member.

A. controlling device for electric circuits comprising a base, a resistance varying element pivoted. for movement in a plane perpendicular to said. base, manually operated ratchet mechanism for shifting said member step by step and a plurality of elongated contacts of varying lengths mounted perpendicular to said base so that their tree ends are concentric with the pivotal point of said member and successively ens-aged thereby. v i

l. A controlling device for electric cir cuits comprising; a support, a resistance varying. member pivoted for movement; in a plane perpendicular to said support, a. plurality of contacts mounted thereon in the plane of movement of said member and engaging said contacts substantially equal distances from the pivotal point of said member, and a ratchet mechanism for shift; ing the resistance member step by step.

A controlling device for electric ci'- cuits comprising: a support, a plurality of contacts mounted thereon, a resistance member pivoted to move in a plane perpendicular to said support andarranged to engage said contacts in an arc of a circle at varying distances from the base, an operating member, ratchet connections between said members for shifting the reslstance varying member step by step, and means for preventing the operator from exceeding a predetermined step movement.

6. A controlling device for electric circuits comprising a support, two sets of contacts mounted thereon in parallel planes and in staggered relation, a resistance varying member pivoted for movement between said sets and engaging the contacts thereof alternately at varying distances from base and means for shifting said member step by step.

7. A controlling device for electric circuits comprising a support, two sets of contacts mounted. thereon, a compound resistance varying member pivoted for movement in a plane perpendicular to said sets and arranged to engage the contacts of said my hand this 11th day of January, 1909.

CHARLES H. HILL. VVit-nesses BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN ORFORD. 

